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Oil prices ease however remain near 2-week highs on Russia, Iran tensions

Oil rates retreated on Monday following 6% gains recently, but stayed near twoweek highs as geopolitical stress grew between Western powers and major oil producers Russia and Iran, raising threats of supply disruption.

Brent unrefined futures slipped 26 cents, or 0.35%, to $ 74.91 a barrel by 0440 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were at $70.97 a barrel, down 27 cents, or 0.38%.

Both agreements last week notched their biggest weekly gains given that late September to reach their greatest settlement levels since Nov. 7 after Russia fired a hypersonic missile at Ukraine in a warning to the United States and UK following strikes by Kyiv on Russia utilizing U.S. and British weapons.

Oil costs are starting the brand-new week with some small cool-off as market individuals await more cues from geopolitical developments and the Fed's policy outlook to set the tone, stated Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG.

Stress in between Ukraine and Russia have edged up a. notch recently, causing some rates for the threats of a wider. escalation potentially affecting oil supplies.

As both Ukraine and Russia contend to get some utilize. ahead of any upcoming settlements under a Trump administration,. the tensions might likely persist into the year-end, keeping Brent. costs supported around $70-$ 80, Yeap included.

In addition, Iran responded to a resolution gone by the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Thursday by purchasing procedures such as. triggering different brand-new and advanced centrifuges used in. improving uranium.

The IAEA censure and Iran's reaction increases the. possibility that Trump will seek to enforce sanctions versus. Iran's oil exports when he enters power, Vivek Dhar, a. products strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia said in. a note.

Implemented sanctions might sideline about 1 million barrels. per day of Iran's oil exports, about 1% of worldwide oil supply, he. stated.

The Iranian foreign ministry said on Sunday that it will. hold discuss its disputed nuclear program with three. European powers on Nov. 29.

Markets are concerned not only about damage to oil ports. and facilities, but also the possibility of war contagion. and participation of more countries, stated Priyanka Sachdeva,. senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.

Investors were likewise focused on increasing crude oil demand at. China and India, the world's top and third-largest importers,. respectively.

China's crude imports rebounded in November as lower rates. drew stockpiling need while Indian refiners increased crude. throughput by 3% on year to 5.04 million bpd in October, buoyed. by fuel exports.

For the week, traders will be considering U.S. personal. consumption expenditures (PCE) information, due on Wednesday, as that. will likely inform the Federal Reserve's policy meeting. scheduled for Dec. 17-18, Sachdeva stated.

(source: Reuters)